Electronic game tracking system

ABSTRACT

An aerodynamically designed miniature electronic radio transmitter that can be universally attached with the use of high tension rubber bands for use on any type of arrow shaft and with any type of broadhead design. The high-tension rubber bands allow the transmitter to be attached to any type of arrow design while offering minimal flight and trajectory disruptions while at the same time being releasable to attach to the animal upon impact regardless if the arrow passes through or remains embedded in the animal. Before the shot a small magnet is removed from the solid-state transmitter to actuate the transmitter. The transmitter having two barbed hooks becomes embedded in the animal upon impact and remains with the animal. A handheld receiver with earphones attached is then swept in a manner to receive a regular audible interval pulsed signal that gains in strength as the hunters nears the downed game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the hunting of big game animals with a bow and arrow the ultimate objective is to locate an animal downed with an arrow. Animals taken with a large caliber gun usually are killed by shock as well as the damage caused by the bullet and do not travel very far. The tracking of game animals which are wounded by an arrow is sometimes difficult, particularly in dense brush, high grass, deep forests as well as at night by animals leaving a minimal or non existent blood trail Bow and arrows cause their damage by hemorrhage and strong game animals can travel long distances before succumbing. Depending on arrow placement, an arrow may pass through an animal or become imbedded. An arrow that completely passes through is the most desirable outcome of a shot by those who hunt with a bow and arrow. Such a pass through shot increases the probability of a good blood trail. Most prior art systems emphasize the recovery of the arrow in which case an arrow that complete passes through the animal is of no aid in its recovery.

As technology has advanced so has the complexity of inventive tracking systems. Several devices have been developed for tracking and locating game animals, which have been wounded by hunters. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,875 a chemical detection technique is disclosed, wherein two chemicals are contained in the shaft of an arrow in separate vials. Upon impact with a game animal or the ground, the vials break and intermixing of the two chemicals produces visible smoke. By following the trail of smoke, the hunter may track the animal or retrieve the arrow. In thickly wooded areas, however, the smoke may be visible for only a very short distance and if there is any wind, the smoke trail is quickly disbursed. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,944, a hunting arrow is disclosed which includes a continuous line of nylon tracking string connecting the bow to the arrow, which upon shooting of an arrow creates a trail marking the path of the wounded animal. As a disadvantage, the nylon string may become entangled in trees or brush, and broken by the animal. Also there may be instances in which the animal is only slightly wounded and runs a long distance, and there may not be enough string in the spool to provide an adequate trail. Furthermore, when the arrow is shot, the trailing yarn adversely affects the arrow trajectory and accuracy.

The uses of radio transmitting devices have been used for tracking arrows and on and in which the transmitting devices have been mounted. The continual location of the transmitter can be relayed to the hunter by following the transmitting device with a receiver capable of locating the transmitter by an increase in signal strength or signal frequency as the hunter gets closer to the transmitter. Known prior art devices are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,790,948; 4,421,319; 4,675,683; and 4,704,612. It will be noted that each of these patents discloses a transmitting device, which is constructed in combination with a hunter's arrow, i.e., the transmitting device is fixedly secured to the arrow in each of the above disclosures.

This feature is a disadvantage since certain modern hunters' bows have the power to drive an arrow entirely through the body of an animal. Accordingly, the known prior art is unable to track an animal wounded by an arrow carrying a transmitting device but which passes through the body.

Systems such as found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,442 requires modification to and the use of a metal arrow for the systems to be functional. New technology such as carbon arrows completely eliminates the ability to modify the shaft without damage to the carbon shaft. Its use also requires penetration of the arrow up to the nock level in order for the transmitter to become attached. This requirement renders the system useless if minimal penetration is achieved. U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,245 allows for an arrow/wounded transmitter-tracking device that allows the transmitter to remain with the animal whether the arrow passes through the animal or remains embedded. Even though the most recent heretofore inventions addressees the problem of arrow pass through several other disadvantages exist.

-   -   a.) This invention allows for a membrane that attaches directly         to all conventional hunting arrows. As archery technology has         now progressed there is no conventional hunting arrow. Modern         arrow design incorporates the use of conventional arrow material         such as aluminum but also now uses carbon, carbon composites as         well as carbon aluminum composites. Arrow diameters vary to an         extreme degree depending on hunter preference and equipment use.         Prior art does not allow for such flexibility without the         ability to modify such size of the membrane to include all sizes         of modern arrow s without incurring significant production         costs. An improved device would be a device with universal fit         and attachment method to all modern archery equipment without         the need for specific arrow type application.     -   b.) Previous art designs disallow the inventions use on modern         cross bows and overdraw systems due to the circumferential         design of the membrane and housing as shown in U.S. Pat. No.         4,940,245 drawing part 18. Such membrane and housing would come         in to contact with the arrow rest systems used in such equipment         and thus prevent the arrow from being fired correctly     -   c.) A mechanical switch to actuate the transmitter lends itself         to mechanical failure. This is especially true with modern arrow         speeds and transfer of high kinetic energy upon impact. A         preferred embodiment of the present invention lends itself to a         solid-state actuation with no moving parts.     -   d.) Modern carbon arrows are have less weight than conventional         metal arrows and are more susceptible to aerodynamic issues. A         low profile, lightweight transmitter lends itself to being more         arrow dynamic and has less impact on arrow flight         characteristics and trajectories.     -   e.) Aerodynamic issues are of great concern with modern arrow         material. As U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,245 does not disclose the         weight of said device it must not exceed the 9-15% weight         forward concept as recommended by arrow manufacturers. The         current device provides less bulk and is well within the         recommended specifications to avoid arrow flight problems.     -   f.) As the design of modern broadheads has changed to include         expandable broadheads, many whose blades open and extend         backwards, would require a low profile, universal design to         prevent contact with the opening blades

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an universal type arrow/animal tracking device for bow hunters designed to be attached with high tension rubber bands to any type of arrow design for use on any arrow shaft and with any type of broadhead

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrow/wounded animal tracking device which includes the feature of releasable transferring of the attachment of the tracking device directly to the animal struck by the arrow

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a low profile, lightweight transmitter lends itself to being more arrow dynamic and has less impact on arrow flight characteristics and trajectories.

A further object of the present invention is to provide lightweight, battery powered transmitting device, which is actuated before the shot to prevent mechanical failure upon impact.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The objects provided in the present invention are a new and improved universally adaptable battery operated miniature transmitter for tracking and locating downed game animals. As such, the improved method of attachment using high tension rubber bands will allow the low profile, lightweight transmitter to be attached to any type of arrow design while offering minimal flight and trajectory disruptions. At the same time the device will be releasable and become attached to the animal upon impact regardless if the arrow passes through or remains embedded in the animal. Before the shot a small magnet is removed from the solid-state transmitter to actuate the transmitter. The transmitter having two barbed hooks becomes embedded in the animal upon impact and remains with the animal. A handheld receiver with earphones attached is then swept in a manner to receive a regular audible interval pulsed signal that gains in strength as the hunters nears the downed game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A Illustrates the preferred embodiment of an inventive electronic game animal tracking system that comprising an barbed miniature transmitter and a yagi style antennae and receiver equipped with headphones.

FIG. 1B illustrates the hardwire connections of the various elements to each other

FIG. 1C illustrates the inventive universal attachment method of an inventive electronic game tracking system to an arrow shaft

FIG. 2A illustrates the printed circuit design of an inventive transmitter with barbed attachment

FIG. 3A illustrates the printed circuit design of an inventive antennae and receiver with headphones

FIG. 4A Illustrates a flow chart depicting inventive control sequences.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION-PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The operation and method of attachment of the electronic game tracking system illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1C is as follows:

The transmitter with barbs attached (10) is positioned on the arrow shaft (15) directly behind the broadhead (25) so the location does not interfere with the drawing and release of the arrow. The arrow is attached with inventive small rubberbands (30) designed to hold the transmitter (10) securely in flight but release upon impact of the arrow. One rubberband (30) is placed towards the front of the transmitter (10) and the other rubberband (30) near the rear.

This allows for secure attachment to the arrow (15) during flight. The barbs on the transmitter (10) are faced in a forward direction and place directly behind the broadhead (25). This position of the transmitter (10) helps improve erratic flight in the same manner a paper airplane flies better with a paperclip attached to the front. This forward position applies more kinetic energy at the point of impact. The amount of weight from the transmitter added to the front is approximately 13.2% and does not exceed the recommended 9-15% recommended front of center weight for hunting arrows. Once securely attached the transmitter (10) is now ready for use. Removing a small magnet (20) that is attached to the transmitter activates the transmitter (10). This removal allows power to be provided to the transmitter (10) and allows the transmitter to begin emitting a regularly pulsed signal. To turn the transmitter (10) off the magnet (20) is replaced; power ceases to be applied to the transmitter and the transmitter (10) ceases emitting a signal. This prevents wasting of transmitter battery life when not in use. Once the magnet (20) is removed the transmitter (10) is activated and ready to be fired. When the arrow (25) is shot at a game animal the transmitters barbs attach to the game animal.

The rubberbands (30) that attach the transmitter (10) to the arrow peel away and the transmitter (10) dislodges from the arrow. (25) The inventive feature of the attachment to the transmitter (10) is that it does not matter whether the arrow passes all the way through the animal or only partially penetrates.

This is a distinct advantage over other such devices in that the arrow must stay with the animal or completely passes through in order to be found. The transmitter (10) will function whether it becomes attached inside or the outside of the game animal. The transmitter (10) generates a signal in the form of a radio wave. Once activated by the magnet (20) removal this signal is transmitted to the said antennae (50) and receiver (60). Once the transmitter (10) has been shot the receiver (60) is activated by turning on a small toggle switch located on the receiver (60) box.

The headphones (70) attached to the receiver (60) are place on the ears, the attached yagi style antennae (50) is held upright over the head and the receiver (60) turned on. The antenna (50) is swept in an arc until a signal is received and is heard in the headphones (70). Once a signal is received the antennae (50) is moved in one direction until the signal fades and then moved in the opposite direction until the signal fades.

The halfway point between the two signals fading will be the point that the signal is the strongest and is the direction of travel. His procedure is continually repeated and the direction of travel is followed. The signal of the transmitter (10) will become stronger as the distance between the receiver (60) and transmitter (10) becomes closer and this signal is followed until the downed game is located

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION AND SCOPE

Accordingly it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that an improved tracking device that is an aerodynamically designed miniature electronic radio transmitter that can be universally attached with the use of high tension rubber bands for use on any type of arrow shaft and with any type of broadhead design has been provided. This type of transmitter design and method of attachment has the additional advantages in that:

-   -   it provides an improved arrow/wounded animal tracking device         which includes the feature of releasable transfers the         attachment of the tracking device directly to the animal struck         by the arrow     -   it provides a low profile, lightweight transmitter that lends         itself to being more arrow dynamic and has less impact on arrow         flight characteristics and trajectories.     -   it provides lightweight, battery powered transmitting device         which is actuated before the shot to prevent mechanical failure         upon impact.

While the preferred embodiments have been described and the above description contains many specificities, it should be recognized that various modifications such as physical shape may be made but the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given 

1. An electronic game tracking device with universal fit and attachment method to all modern archery equipment arrows without the need for specific arrow type application in junction with a receiver and yagi style antennae with directional locating capability with said device comprising: an audible signal-generating device with transmitting components housed within said housing for transmitting said audible signal to said receiver and antennae. a universal method of attachment and releasement of said audible signal generating device for mounting said device on any type of archery arrow shaft
 2. An electronic game tracking device with universal fit and attachment method to all modern archery equipment arrows without the need for specific arrow type application in junction with a receiver and yagi style antennae with directional locating capability with said device comprising: an audible signal-generating device with transmitting components housed within said housing for transmitting said audible signal to said receiver and antennae. a universal method of attachment and releasement of said audible signal generating device for mounting said device on any type of archery arrow shaft comprised of high tension rubber bands or membrane to any type of arrow design for use on any arrow shaft and with any type of broadhead
 3. The electronic game tracking device of claim 2 wherein said device is further comprised of an actuation procedure for said electronic game tracking device by removing said small magnet that is attached to said transmitter to activate and allow power to be provided to the said transmitter and allows said transmitter to begin emitting a regularly pulsed signal and said transmitter is turned off when the said magnet is replaced and the said transmitter ceases emitting a signal.
 4. An electronic game tracking device with universal fit and attachment method to all modern archery equipment arrows without the need for specific arrow type application in junction with a receiver and yagi style antennae with directional locating capability with said device comprising: an audible signal-generating device with transmitting components housed within said housing for transmitting said audible signal to said receiver and antennae with said transmitter having a definitive front portion and a definitive rear portion a universal method of attachment and releasement of said audible signal generating device for mounting said device on any type of archery arrow shaft comprised of high tension rubber bands or membrane to any type of arrow design for use on any arrow shaft and with any type of broadhead an actuation procedure for said electronic game tracking device actuated by removing said small magnet that is attached to said transmitter to activate and allow power to be provided to the said transmitter and allows said transmitter to begin emitting a regularly pulsed signal and said transmitter is turned off when the said magnet is replaced and the said transmitter ceases emitting a signal.
 5. The electronic game tracking device of claim 4 which wherein said front portion of said transmitter further comprises two forward facing barbed hooks for efficient means of attachment of said transmitter to said animal upon contact. 